Chicago Eliminated in First Round of Voting for the 2016 Olympics

[Sten]

Originally Posted by Utah Bob

As someone o Fox pointed out, he spent more time flying to Denmark than he has talking to McChrystal about Afghanistan.

The people of Chicago dodged a bullet on this one. If I lived in a city whose elected officials advocated an Olympic bid when there was a budget shortfall, urban blight, and runaway crime, I'd scream bloody murder.
I have a friend who is a Chicago cop. He's ecstatic right now.

I really hope there is major blow back on Daley and he loses the up coming mayoral election. That with the handgun ban suit hitting SCOTUS the people of Illinois might get to breath some free air for the first time in a long time.

I for one am glad that POTUS expended political capital on this snipe hunt. He now has less then he did yesterday.

[kgoerz]

Having spent time in Chicago. I will say it's one of the cleanest Cities I ever been to. The people there are also extremely friendly. I even tried to tranfer there.
Having been to Rio. There is no other way to describe Rio other then a Virtual Reality Porn Shop. I never saw more Porn and Prostitution all in one place. The main strip was entertaining with countless Bars, Restaurants and Street Performers.
Venture one block over and you are in a War Zone. Street crime is out of control. I spent a lot of time in many different Cities thru out Central and South America. Rio was one City where I never traveled alone and always watched my back.
The Police at the time actually did strafing runs using Helo's over the Ghetto.

[Chris Cram]

Originally Posted by kgoerz

Having spent time in Chicago. I will say it's one of the cleanest Cities I ever been to. The people there are also extremely friendly. I even tried to tranfer there.
Having been to Rio. There is no other way to describe Rio other then a Virtual Reality Porn Shop. I never saw more Porn and Prostitution all in one place. The main strip was entertaining with countless Bars, Restaurants and Street Performers.
Venture one block over and you are in a War Zone. Street crime is out of control. I spent a lot of time in many different Cities thru out Central and South America. Rio was one City where I never traveled alone and always watched my back.
The Police at the time actually did strafing runs using Helo's over the Ghetto.

Sir
Are you implying that the IOC wants to have their fun in the Southern Sun?
Go to Rio... Lease a condo... Buy some 'Furniture'...

[dadof18x'er]

"Chicago eliminated" good phrasing!!

Originally Posted by armymom1228

My tax dollars at work.

He flys to Denmark be there only for 4 hours, to fly back again.

I wagered with my dtr last week that Rio would get it. Its the logical choice. Japan, US and Spain have all had the olympics. SA has never had a games of any flavor there. Makes a lot of sense to me.

Congratulations Brasil!!

AM

Was the crime rate in Chicago considered? What is the crime rate in Brasil?

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by Sten

I really hope there is major blow back on Daley and he loses the up coming mayoral election. That with the handgun ban suit hitting SCOTUS the people of Illinois might get to breath some free air for the first time in a long time.

I for one am glad that POTUS expended political capital on this snipe hunt. He now has less then he did yesterday.

Sten,

Daley will never lose an election......I was born and raised on the south side of the city and know how well the politics work there........When I was discharged from the service,my wife's uncle who was a precent captain, told me if I wanted to be a cop or fireman just let him know and it will get done......My wife said no way,once you get on the payroll your life is theirs....I didn't go that route.....That's a machine that won't ever break......His job by the way was to collect pennies which at that time is what you could use in the old time parking meters. He did it in while driving in his cadillac..........It's not the mafia,but it's so close you can't tell the difference...

Big Teddy

[Red Flag 1]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

This had nothing to do with it I'm sure......

Hey kids, can you spell HATE.

Great photo op!

Originally Posted by csquare

! Hopefully the O's flew over in seperate planes, so they can double the cost of this boondoogle!

I believe they did. I heard mention that SHE was there before he was.

CNN commented that the First Lady introduced her husband with the Hope and Change line. I guess it did not impress the IOC.

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by kgoerz

Having spent time in Chicago. I will say it's one of the cleanest Cities I ever been to. The people there are also extremely friendly. I even tried to tranfer there.
Having been to Rio. There is no other way to describe Rio other then a Virtual Reality Porn Shop. I never saw more Porn and Prostitution all in one place. The main strip was entertaining with countless Bars, Restaurants and Street Performers.
Venture one block over and you are in a War Zone. Street crime is out of control. I spent a lot of time in many different Cities thru out Central and South America. Rio was one City where I never traveled alone and always watched my back.
The Police at the time actually did strafing runs using Helo's over the Ghetto.

I agree that Chicago is a beautiful city and its residents wonderful. (Maybe that's why support for the president was so strong in his home town? They wanted him to move.)

The sex industry in Rio is going to cause at least one Olympian some heartache. The IOC needs to put together a multi-lingual flash card "How to recognize a T-girl without playing the Crying Game."

In regards to Chicago not getting the games, I'm ambivalent. I don't know if I should just snicker or if I should laugh hysterically.

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by Utah Bob

The people of Chicago dodged a bullet on this one. If I lived in a city whose elected officials advocated an Olympic bid when there was a budget shortfall, urban blight, and runaway crime, I'd scream bloody murder.
I have a friend who is a Chicago cop. He's ecstatic right now.

You are most correct. I am ecstatic...for many reasons.

I realize the athletes would love to compete in their home country...I'm just glad it's not going to happen in Chicago. The last thing this city needed was a way for the unions and others to grease their palms, for one. The common tax payer would have been left with one hell of a bill. Far too many things that need to be addressed here, dealing with the Games would have been a nightmare.

Originally Posted by wet dog

Was the crime rate in Chicago considered? What is the crime rate in Brasil?

I highly doubt it. Crime in Rio is thru the roof.

I am of the opinion that the whole thing was decided in advance. Otherwise why would Rio build all that stadium for such a party. No other city did such a thing?

MY congratulations was because no other city in SA has been able to host the Summer Olympics.

CNN made mention of the fact that there was a comment about walling off a part of Rio from the Olympics visitors. Interesting concept. Dunno how that will stop the crime.

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by Gypsy

The last thing this city needed was a way for the unions and others to grease their palms, for one.

I wonder what role NBC Universal played in the games not going to Chicago?

During the set up for the 2003 NCTA Show (the cable television industry's major trade show), the electricians deliberately antagonized NBC by doing shoddy work slowly. The woman in charge of getting the booth set up was enraged.

That show was so bad that the NCTA, under pressure from member companies, teamed with other industry organizations (including, IIRC, NAB) and decided to skip Chicago for a couple of rotation sequences. The consensus was: "Great city as long as you didn't need to get any work done."

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

I wonder what role NBC Universal played in the games not going to Chicago?

I have absolutely no doubt that kind of situation, not isolated, played a part. I've worked at trade shows before, I was amazed. The reputation had to preceed "us". Hell if you're in the city you cannot plug in a light without an electrician filing a grievance. If you confront them, (mind you I'm speaking generally...there are some decent folks) then you get the slow-mo workers. It is unbelievable.

[Gypsy]

Yeah, I don't think Michelle Obama's speech earlier in the week helped. She opened with what a sacrifice it was for her, and her husband, to travel to Copenhagen. I figured we lost the bid right there.

Now I ask you, what would you think if you were an IOC member? Pffft, what sacrifice? She didn't travel coach.

[abc_123]

Originally Posted by kgoerz

Having spent time in Chicago. I will say it's one of the cleanest Cities I ever been to. The people there are also extremely friendly. I even tried to tranfer there.
Having been to Rio. There is no other way to describe Rio other then a Virtual Reality Porn Shop. I never saw more Porn and Prostitution all in one place. The main strip was entertaining with countless Bars, Restaurants and Street Performers.
Venture one block over and you are in a War Zone. Street crime is out of control. I spent a lot of time in many different Cities thru out Central and South America. Rio was one City where I never traveled alone and always watched my back.
The Police at the time actually did strafing runs using Helo's over the Ghetto.

I remember the trip from the airport into the city and looking out the window at the favelas. words can't describe slums of that magnitude and population density. Now, as long as you stay within a block of the beach and be "big city smart" the most shocking thing you'll likely run into is a 70yr old man in a speedo bathing suit Was there over their independence day. What a great military parade. They took great pride in their service with the allies during WWII (the only country that did so, IIRC) and their airborne units (and school) in their lineage make specific reference to interaction with the U.S. Very cool.

The best is that I have a picture somewhere of me under canopy with nothing but Rio in the picture all around.

Good trip and good times.